Rafael Benitez: Liverpool have learned lessons of past

Aug 28 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ believes Liverpool have learned the lessons of past Champions League nail-biters – and revealed he is confident of signing defensive reinforcement before Friday’s transfer deadline.

The Anfield side entertain Toulouse this evening in the second leg of their final qualifying round tie holding a 1-0 lead from the first meeting in south-west France a fortnight ago.

Twice in the last three years, Liverpool have progressed to the lucrative group stage despite losing the return game at home following a first-leg two-goal victory on their travels.

But Benitez is convinced this team’s narrow advantage will ensure there is no repeat of the close calls against Grazer and CSKA Sofia as Liverpool aim to register their 50th European Cup win at Anfield.

“We will say to the players to be careful, but it’s a different situation to the other qualifiers we’ve had,” said Benitez.

“Back then, we were leading by two goals from the first leg, and the players were maybe more relaxed and it was a bit difficult for them to concentrate as much.

“But they know now that there is a risk, and we must be really focused. I think the experience of those games will help us.”

Liverpool will be without both Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard for tonight’s game, although Sami Hyypia has been passed fit despite sustaining a broken nose at Sunderland at the weekend.

Gerrard continues to rest his broken toe, while Carragher is expected to be sidelined for at least the next two games as he recovers from a broken rib, although fears he suffered collapsed lung have been allayed.

“Jamie will be unavailable,” said Benitez. “It is nothing serious but we’ll lose him for the next couple of games, although I don’t know exactly how long he’ll be out for.

“Sami will be okay though, he was training today.”

Hyypia will captain the side this evening, with the likes of Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt, John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch and Javier Mascherano poised for a recall to the starting line-up.

“I can name 18 players,” added the Liverpool manager. “The majority of the players who were not involved in the last game, maybe they will be there.”

The injuries to Carragher and Hyypia have brought into sharp focus Liverpool’s need for more backup at the heart of defence, particularly with Gabriel Paletta having been sold at the weekend.

The collapse of the deal for Gabriel Heinze has left Benitez scouring the market for a signing of sufficient quality before the end of the week.

And although confident he will prove successful in his quest, the Anfield manager has not ruled out calling on the likes of reserve talent such as Jack Hobbs should it be necessary.

“We were checking players but were sure that Heinze would be coming here, but now we need to analyse the situation,” said Benitez.

“The injury problems of the weekend only gives us something more to think about.

“We have players in the reserves we can use for one or two games like Hobbs, which is an option.

“I know we won’t have too much time to bring someone else in, but if we need to do it, I think we can do it. If you are at a top side and you decide you need someone, normally 80% of the players will say yes.”

Sir Alex Ferguson last week revealed Manchester United are investigating Liverpool’s role in the Heinze affair, insinuating the player may have been “tapped up” – an accusation publicly levelled at United themselves 14 times since 1998.

And in response, Benitez said: “I am concerned about Toulouse.

“But he (Ferguson) has been working in England for 21 years and he has more experience than me. In everything.”

As part of the deal that took Paletta to Boca Juniors, highly-rated young left-back Emiliano Insua has now made his move to Anfield permanent.

* TONIGHT’S officials are from Germany, with Wolfgang Stark the referee.